Hopkins Marine Station Student Paper

Title: Orientation and movement of the limpet Acmaea digitalis (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) on vertical rock surfacesStudent Author(s): Miller, Alan C.Faculty Advisor(s): Abbott, DonaldPages: 65Location: Final Papers Biology 175HDate: June 1966 Keywords: limpet
AcmaeaAbstract: Acmaea digitalis, at low tide, on dry vertical intertidal rocks tend to orient with the head pointed downward and to the right (facing toward 3 to 6 o'clock). When splashed by rising tide, they turn either right or left, and move about; no marked orientation tendency appears. On receding tides activity decreases and limpets again come to rest and tend to orient toward 3 to 6 o'clock. Changes in orientation reflect changes in direction of movement. Percent of animals moving, and average distance moved increase with increasing duration of the period of wetting. The population shows a net movement upward during higher high water periods, or during storms, and downward during lower high water periods; this tendency is more marked for high tides occurring in daylight than at night. Some animals display homing behavior.Notes: Published 1968, Veliger 11(Suppl): 32-44